Chapter 615
Chapter 615
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Chapter 615
The courtroom lights dimmed.
The large screen at the front flickered to life. A faint burst of static crackled through the speakers before the audio sharpened into something clear-unmistakable.
“-are you sure this will work?” a man’s voice asked, slightly distorted.
Then everyone in the room recognized.
“She’s just a child,” Selena said calmly. “And children are easy to shape p>
Eli’s body went rigid.
Her hands, resting in her lap, slowly curled tight.
Althea immediately reached for her. “Eli…” she whispered.
But Eli didn’t respond. Her eyes were locked on the screen.
Althea didn’t stop her. Some truths had to be seen-not just told. This moment, as painful as it was, mattered. For Eli. For her future. And no matter how cruel Selena had been, Althea and Daven were right here-steady, unyielding-making sure Eli would never face it alone again.
The recording continued.
“With her, I can enter that family without suspicion. They would never turn away a child p>
A ripple of whispers spread across the courtroom.
“This is… insane p>
“She planned everything p>
Selena’s voice came again.
“She doesn’t know anything. And that’s what makes her perfect p>
T
Eli drew in a sharp breath. Her chest tightened painfully. “I…” Her voice was barely audible. “Was I really just… a tool p>
Althea tightened her grip. “You are not a tool, Eli p>
But the words didn’t immediately quiet the storm inside her. At the defendant’s stand, Selena still tried to maintain her composure-but her jaw had begun to stiffen.
The prosecutor rose. “This recording clearly demonstrates the defendant’s intent to deliberately exploit a minor for personal gain p>
The judge’s gaze sharpened as it settled on Selena. “Do you deny the contents of this recording p>
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Selena lifted her chin. “It’s taken out of context p>
Chris scoffed under his breath. “Classic p>
Cale didn’t move, his eyes fixed forward. “She’s panicking. Look at her-she’s not as calm anymore p>
Chris let out a quiet chuckle, his attention now fully on Selena, watching every flicker of her expression.
he prosecutor didn’t give her space to recover. “Very well. Then let’s examine the rest of that context p>
The recording resumed.
“If they find out her real identity, everything will fall apart,” the man’s voice said again.
Selena answered without hesitation. “If they find out, it means I’ve failed. And I never fail p>
Silence swallowed the room. There was no space left for denial. Eli lowered her head. Tears slipped down her cheeks, soundless. “I really meant nothing to her…” she murmured.
Althea shifted closer, wrapping an arm around her. “You mean something to us p>
Eli shook her head faintly. “Everything she said… it’s true,” she whispered. “I didn’t know anything-and she used that p>
Daven, who had remained silent until now, finally spoke. His voice was low, but firm. “And that is not your fault p>
Eli stilled. For a few seconds, she just stared at her own hands. Then, slowly, she lifted her head. Her eyes were red-but something in them had changed. No longer lost. No longer uncertain.
Something steadier. Stronger. Suddenly, Selena shot to her feet.
“That’s not what you think!” she snapped, her voice rising. “I raised her! I gave her a life p>
The judge struck his gavel. “Defendant, sit down p>
But Selena turned toward Eli instead. “Eli!” she called out. “Say something! You know I’m not like that p>
Every head in the courtroom turned at once. Eli tensed. Her breath caught-but this time, she didn’t look back. Instead, her grip on Althea’s hand tightened.
Althea felt it. She squeezed back-firm, steady-without a word.
Selena stared at her in disbelief. “Eli…?” Her voice wavered. “You’re not going to leave me, are you p>
Eli closed her eyes for a brief moment.
Memories flickered fragments of a life she had once believed in. There had been warmth, once. Moments that felt real. But beneath it all… she had been used. Shaped. Positioned like something that
was never truly her own.
The weight of that realization pressed heavily in her chest.
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And this time-she chose to let it go.
“I have nothing left to say to you,” she whispered.
Simple words. But enough to make Selena falter completely. “No…” Selena shook her head. “No, this isn’t right p>
Chris leaned back in his seat. “There it is. The mask is finally cracking p>
Cale watched without expression. “Too late for that, isn’t it p>
The trial resumed.
The prosecutor moved on without hesitation. “For the defendant Harold, we submit evidence of twenty million in embezzled funds concealed through shell corporations p>
Graphs reappeared on the screen-accounts, transactions, names laid out in cold precision.
“All of this has been verified by an independent audit team p>
Harold remained seated upright. But this time, his expression wasn’t as composed.
Daven looked at him directly.
“He’s getting restless,” Chris muttered.
“Not yet,” Cale replied shortly. “Wait p>
The prosecutor continued, presenting evidence one after another. “We also have proof of the defendant’s involvement in the deliberate planning of criminal acts p>
The tension in the room tightened again.
The judge turned to Harold, “Do you still deny all these charges p>
Harold fell silent for a few seconds before answering, “…I will not admit to something that hasn’t been
proven p>
Chris let out a short laugh. “Still stubborn p>
The trial reached its final stage. The judge closed the file in front of him. “After considering all the evidence and testimonies presented p>
The room fell completely still. No one moved.
“…the court delivers the following verdict p>
Eli held her breath. Althea’s grip on her hand tightened just a little more.
“For the defendant, Harold p>
All eyes turned forward.
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“Found guilty on all charges and sentenced to life imprisonment p>
A wave of murmurs swept through the courtroom.
Chris let out a long breath. “Finally p>
Cale gave a small nod. Daven remained silent, though something in his gaze softened-just slightly.
The judge continued. “For the defendant, Selena Ward p>
Selena stared ahead, her eyes beginning to fill with fear.
“…found guilty of identity falsification, manipulation of a minor, and conspiracy for personal gain p>
Tears slid down her cheeks.
“…and sentenced to eighteen years in prison p>
Selena froze. “No…” she whispered. Then her voice broke into a shout. “No! This isn’t fair! I don’t deserve
this p>
The judge struck the gavel sharply. “Order in the court p>
But Selena had already lost control. She turned toward Eli again.
“Eli! Say something! Tell them p>
Eli didn’t move. Her hand remained firmly wrapped around Althea’s. “I don’t want to see you again,” she said quietly,
Selena went still.
For the first time-truly still. Then her body seemed to give out. The officers moved quickly to restrain
her. “NO! THIS IS WRONG!” she screamed. “THIS IS ALL WRONG p>
Her voice echoed through the courtroom. But no one turned back. No one cared. Because it was over.
And for the first time since all of this began-Eli felt… free.
P
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